Siesta Beach named Number One Beach in America again by Dr. Beach

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May 25, 2017, 09:00 ET

SARASOTA, Fla., May 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Siesta Beach in Sarasota County on Florida's Gulf Coast was named the #1 Beach in America by Dr. Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. "Dr. Beach" today. Siesta Beach first took the #1 spot on Dr. Beach's annual beaches' list in 2011.

"It is an honor for Siesta Beach to receive this recognition for a second time," says Virginia J. Haley, CDME, President of Visit Sarasota County. "The investments by Sarasota County to improve the amenities offered at the beach have paid off with this #1 ranking. Since holding the number one spot in 2011, Sarasota County invested more than $21 million to renovate the amenities offered at the beach. These include additional free parking spaces, a playground, extended picnic areas and more. These investments only add to the pristine beauty Siesta Beach."

Beaches are chosen for their beach safety, environmental protection and extra points are awarded for laws against smoking on the beach.

"Siesta Beach boasts that it has the finest, whitest sand in the world, which attracts sand collectors and beach lovers from all over," says Dr. Stephen Leatherman, "Dr. Beach." "Siesta Beach is not only a beautiful location for beachgoers, but it is also an environmentally healthy beach and offers first-rate beach safety for its visitors."

For more information about visiting Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota County on Florida's Gulf Coast, go to visitsarasota.org.

About Sarasota County

Located on Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast, Sarasota County offers a vibrant arts and cultural scene, a diverse array of culinary experiences and a variety of opportunities to take advantage of the clear waters and the great outdoors. Sarasota County provides the quintessential, laid-back beach getaway with numerous sprawling, white-sand beaches, including Siesta Key Beach, named the top beach in America by TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice™ in 2017 and "America's Best Beach" in 2011 by Stephen Leatherman, aka, Dr. Beach. Dubbed "Home of the American Circus," Sarasota County served as the headquarters for the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus for 75 years, and visitors can experience its unique circus heritage first-hand by following the circus trail or catching a performance by one of two local circus companies. For more information on visiting Sarasota County, visit visitsarasota.org or call (941) 706-1253.

SOURCE Visit Sarasota County